500,000 Devotees Visit Ram Temple on First Day, Security Personnel Face Challenges in Crowd Control
GG News Bureau
Ayodhya, 24th Jan. Around 500,000 devotees visited the Ram temple complex on the first day it opened to the public, following the consecration ceremony.
The entry to the temple complex began at 6 am and a massive crowd gathered throughout the day, causing congestion in the main gateway and the streets of the temple town. The total number of visitors on the first day was approximately 500,000.
The last entry was at 10 pm.
In the evening, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an aerial inspection of the temple site and held a discussion with trust officials about crowd management.
People who had been camping in Ayodhya since before the consecration ceremony waited in long queues outside the temple. Security personnel maintained order as the crowd grew, and at one point, the crowd became so large that security personnel struggled to control it.
The entire section of the main thoroughfare was blocked as devotees wanted to have a glimpse of Ram Lalla’s idol.
The administration implemented measures to manage the crowd, including proper holding areas, queuing, and barricading. More than 8,000 policemen were deployed at the temple to ensure security.
Rumors that the temple was temporarily closed due to the rush were refuted by Ayodhya police.
Security guards formed a human fence to manage the crowd, and announcements were made on loudspeakers to maintain order.
Devotees waited for hours in the cold before the temple doors opened. Many expressed their joy and fulfillment at being able to visit the temple. Some devotees traveled long distances, such as cycling over 600 kilometers, to reach Ayodhya.
The temple complex is built in the traditional Nagara style and is 380 feet long, 250 feet wide, and will eventually rise to 161 feet at the ‘shikhar’.
